The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-30
How and When to Plant seeds.

The first important step taken toward
the cultivation of crop is the obtaining
of good seed. Next come considerations
OF soil and depth of planting. The tenn
perature and moisture of the ground have
more to do with the successes and failures
yearly recorded than is generally acted
upon, Wheat and barley, for instance,
while they struggle through the ground
Mt the extreme temperatures of Al degrees
and 100 degrees, germinate most rapidly,
other conditions being equal, at about "a
degrees, Corn does best at say w de-
grees, though it will germinate at from on
to ll5 degrees. The squash bean and pea
all germinate quickly at about the same
temperature as that given for corn.
Clover seed often fails because sown at a
time of insufficient moisture, while mil
let, for instance, under similar conditions
of dryness win secure good catch.
Every one who plants at all understands
that the size of the seed has much to do
with the depth of covering required. and
farmers with one accord place corn deeper
than the small grains, and the small
grains deeper than the grasses, but all
farmers do not vary these respective
depths to suit the different soils into which
the seed are placed, and yet IT requires
only moments consideration TO see tnat
a heavy soil which lies close to the seed
admits of slighter covering than shifting,
sandy one. Many interesting experiments
have been made from time to time in test
ing the terminating powers of seed under
different depths of covering. In table
prepared by Professor Petri, showing the
termination of wheat at certain depths IN
the ground, it appears that about three
fourths of the seed planted will come up
at a depth of three inches, and nearly all
at from one to two inches.
These and similar facts point to the i'm
portance of every planters acquainting
himself with the requirements of the seeds
to be planted, and regulating time and
depth of sowing to suit the same They
also explain many failures which have
been laid to the quality of the seed; but
this should not lessen the zeal of farmers
In their endeavors for good, pure arucle.
Drill P1anting-shaIlow Cultivation.
1t is nineteen years since Mr.. f. S. Car
man first began the advocacy or planning
corn in drills instead of hills; Of sowing
fertilizers on the surface and merely har-
rowing them in; of surface cultivation
that il, shallow cultivation; and OF Keep
ing the land as level as possible-that IS
not hilling up. There were then, as IN
deed there were many years previously,
advocates of one or the other OF these
methods, but none who favored all stimuli
taneously.
At the present time there are many pro
gressive farmers who have tried tins
method, and few, II any, Of them would
return to the old way, viz: plowing under
the manure, planting in hill, hilling up
and deep cultivation, until the corn y
harvested.
Mr.. Carman also says: All farmers who
have planted corn very early know that
after the plants spr0ut and baye grown
two or three inches there usually comes 9
cold spell, and the pIants stop growing an0
often assume yellow, sickly nppeareucc:
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